Texas Tech coach to mine for players in Indiana

Published 6:00 pm, Friday, February 15, 2008

Now that he has that first win under his belt, Pat Knight is starting to think about the future at Texas Tech.

The son of Hall of Famer Bob Knight is already brainstorming on how to build on the struggling program he inherited from his father, including going back to his roots to recruit players from Indiana.

Unlike his dad, he could even be willing to chase after the top players who might stay in college for only one season.

"Those kids really know how to play up there," the younger Knight said of Indiana. "I think it'll be really good."

The family name is well-known and still respected in Indiana, where Bob Knight, the winningest Division I men's coach, won three national titles in his 29 seasons. Pat Knight said he and his father have talked about trying to lure some recruits who might not sign with Big Ten schools to the windy plains of West Texas and the Big 12.

The idea first came up while watching Tech lose to Indianapolis-based Butler (Horizon League) earlier this year in Alaska. Three of Butler's top scorers that game were homegrown.

"That opened our eyes, that Butler game," Pat Knight said, adding a Tech assistant has already traveled to the Hoosier state as many as four times and made "good" inroads with some high school juniors. "There's going to be shooters left around. It's just another avenue to add to Texas and Louisiana."

Like his father, Pat Knight wants players to graduate, but he's not opposed to taking a chance with a top-notch player who, like Kevin Durant at Texas, might play for only a year before heading to the NBA.

After a season in which he was named the AP Player of the Year, Durant was the No. 2 pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

"It doesn't hurt," Pat Knight said. "If you get a great year out of kid, why not? We're going to try some things like that a little different. There's only so many places those guys can go so let's throw our name out there."

What Pat Knight will not throw out is the remainder of this season, especially after Tech's 84-75 upset win over No. 18 Kansas State on Wednesday night. It was Knight's first win and his predecessor father watched from a suite high above the sidelines he patrolled for more than six seasons.

"I couldn't be happier for Pat. He's going to be an unbelievable coach," Martin said. "I know how loyal he's been to this school, to this program. That's what life is all about, loyalty, and waiting your turn, and he's done it the right way."

Tech (12-11, 3-6 Big 12) hosts Oklahoma ( 16-8, 4-5) on Saturday, but the 37-year-old Knight isn't into fairy-tale endings. That's why he's tempering his optimism about the rest of the Red Raiders regular season. Three their remaining seven games are against teams ranked No. 16 or better.

Three games are on the road, where Tech has won only once and that was against a Division II opponent (Alaska-Anchorage).

"I'd love to say we'll win out … you know, Cinderella story," Knight said. "But this isn't a movie. This is real life."

The younger Knight is hopeful for a winning record and a couple of wins in the Big 12 tournament. An NCAA berth isn't likely, but the NIT seems possible.

Certainly a postseason tournament would help with recruiting. Pat Knight pointed to one more benefit to playing at Texas Tech.

"If you need help on any part of your game, we got a Hall of Fame guy you can talk to," he said of his father.